With the new schedule Bette continued to spent time with Tina at the Center on twice a week and on the weekends when Tina went in to finish work. It was wonderful to not have a job dictating every move. The time at the Center was some how therapeutic and calming. Working with the kids was greats and Bette couldn’t wait for Angelica to be old enough to take part.

Bette was getting ready for her trip to Southern Connecticut State where she would be guest speaking. She was going to be there for two weeks most of which the students would be on the winter break. The classes she would miss would be covered by one of the department’s competent associate instructors. The conference would end in time for everyone to be with the families for the holidays and have very little interruptions for the students. Two weeks isn’t a long time but it would be the first Tina and Bette would be separated since Bette was released from the hospital and the birth of Angelica. Bette felt some hesitancy but Tina was practically pushing Bette out the door.

            She was excited. Bette had not been back to New Haven since her days at Yale nor had she been home to Philadelphia in almost as many years. It was only a three and a half hour drive to Philly from New Haven but she had mixed feelings about returning. In a lot of ways it was still home and may be worth visiting during the weekend. The problem is only one friend she cared about remained who she had not spoken to in recent years and her father as much as she loves him had never really accepted her. No matter how successful. Thinking about it now maybe Philly wasn’t such a good idea. Melvin Porter as far as she new never even attempted to come to visit Los Angeles even when she was in the hospital.

            “Baby, are you sure you can’t come with me?”

            “I’m sure, Babe. I wish I could. There is so much going on. Oscar and I are preparing for court again. I’m the only one with the experience. We’ll talk every night and we do have web cameras”, Tina said with a wicked grin.